Mary Tumbo, with youngest son, Elia, tries to raise her family on her own as she battles HIV in Mugumu, Tanzania. She still finds ways to help others touched by this disease. "Those of us who have HIV but have strength could help those who are weak," she says. Read Mary's story in the November 2002 issue of a Common Place magazine. Tanzania
About TanzaniaSome 1.6 million people have HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, which is a resource rich but economically poor country. As Tanzania moves from socialism to a free-market economy, HIV/AIDS creates additional hardships for families struggling to pay for medicines and funerals and care for orphaned relatives. MCC Supports:Christian Council of TanzaniaAn ecumenical association established in 1934, the Christian Council of Tanzania provides guidance and support to churches in many areas of community development. In 2002, the council established an HIV/AIDS desk to meet the increasing needs faced by churches responding to the pandemic. The desk works primarily on advocacy, training, and research issues. MCC provides funding to support a locally hired medical professional to work with the HIV/AIDS desk. If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.
Community Based Health Promotion Program (CBHPP)Tanzanians daily face the sickness and death that AIDS has brought as they bury loved ones or take in orphans. The constant presence of poverty makes this suffering even more difficult. CBHPP, a program of the Tanzania Mennonite Church in the Mara region, works with people living with AIDS and their families and caregivers. CBHPP offers free counseling and testing services as well as home-based care and a support group for AIDS patients. A youth drama team works in the community and in schools to teach about HIV/AIDS. Outreach workers train traditional healers, bar owners and other community members how to address HIV/AIDS. Orphans are supported with school fees and supplies and nutritional supplements. $1 Cdn./$1 U.S. provides a rapid HIV blood test. $191 Cdn./$151 U.S. covers the cost of HIV/AIDS awareness raising sports competitions throughout the year. If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT)Through a partnership with MCC, the Evangelical Church in Tanzania is working with faith-based hospitals throughout the country to develop a palliative care program. Because life-prolonging anti-retroviral (ARVs) medications are becoming more available throughout the country, the nature of palliative care for AIDS patients is rapidly changing. But many patients still lack access to ARVs, and as many HIV patients develop AIDS and their health declines, medical facilities are challenged to ease the extreme suffering. Through the secondment of a doctor specializing in palliative care, the Evangelical Lutheran Church is exploring ways to improve end-of-life care of AIDS patients. The pilot project is located at the Selian Hospital in Arusha. If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.
Mennonite Hospital Palliative Care TrainingUp to now, most home-based care programs in Tanzania have lacked the ability and knowledge to treat the pain experienced by severely ill patients. Through a training program in four separate Mennonite health institutions, medical professionals and volunteers will better understand palliative care. Through the training provided by this project, quality end-of-life care will be more readily available in the areas of Mugumu, Dodoma, and Shirati. If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.
Tanzania Mennonite Church (KMT) Dodoma — HIV/AIDS DepartmentThe Iringa Road Mennonite Church, in the city of Dodoma, came together with other faith-based groups in their community to address the problem of HIV/AIDS. Through small contributions from members, the church has been able to reach out to neighbors living with HIV/AIDS. Through a larger grant and the secondment of a volunteer from MCC, the church is scaling up its activities. They provide education and training to community members and church leadership. People with HIV/AIDS receive counseling, pastoral care, medical support, assistance with legal protection, and income generation support. If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects. |
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